Pennsylvania rock band, Don’t Panic, have returned to the music scene with their third full-length record called Setting Up To Fail. The band is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Ted Felicetti, Keith Slader (bass), Anthony Paesano (drums) and AJ Larsen (guitar), and their sound is a vibrant mix of good vibes in the style of Bayside, Sugarcult and No Use For A Name. When speaking on the new album, Felicetti says, “We have been at it for four years now. Powered through a worldwide pandemic and wrote and released two albums in that time. But, I can say without a shadow of a doubt, this new record is this band finally stepping into its own. The songs are the most matured versions of our writing abilities and I have never been more proud to release something with my name on it. It’s the perfect mix of the rock and roll bands I grew up on like the Foo Fighters, and my punk rock roots listening to bands like Face to Face and No Use for a Name. “Newer” bands like Bayside and the Menzingers also played a major role in shaping the songwriting here, and I am more than happy to lean into that when the time calls for it– but all while shaping and creating our own sound and feel In our own lives we have never belonged, but with this record I finally feel like we have a place.” With this positive momentum going in the band’s favor, it’s no wonder why Setting Up To Fail is such a rewarding listening experience.
The album launches off with the pulsating drumming of Anthony Paesano on “Photographs,” before the rest of the band members kick into a new gear. The song reminded me a bit of Sugarcult’s “Memory,” with equally-pleasing results in its delivery. “Just A Call Away” follows the raucous opener with a slick pop-guitar sound, and makes the transition from the end of summer to the upcoming fall season seem a little less daunting with the band’s carefree attitude. Other early album standouts, like the Bayside-inspired “Numb,” rock along with ease and showcase Don’t Panic’s ability to control the tempo of the song like punk rock veterans, and still add a few tricks into the mix to keep things interesting.
”The Long Way” wears its Foo Fighters’ influence proudly on its sleeve, and features memorable verse paired with an anthemic chorus that demands to be blasted at the highest volume. The middle section of the LP highlights great songs like “Consequence be Damned” and “Friends Make Better Enemies,” that each have their standout moments on them to keep the feel-good momentum going in the band’s favor. Add in a mid-tempo song like “Black & Blue & White,” and Don’t Panic leverage their rich, multi-guitar layered approach to their songwriting to the best of their ability.
The closing trio of the punk-inspired “El Dorado,” the straight-forward summery rock of “Memories and Exits,” paired with the slow-burn of “M.I.A.” makes for a great artistic statement from the PA-based rockers. While the influences the band showcase on Setting Up To Fail often feel too familiar to set them apart from the rest of the punk rock pack, their delivery of the material is undeniably catchy. Don’t Panic have only been a band for four years ,and yet they show a ton of promise in their musical career. Once the band is able to stray a bit further away from the bands they’re clearly influenced by, they have the talent to make something truly remarkable in this music scene.